When the Harry Potter books were set to be adapted into movies, several Hollywood actors were eager to participate. Among them, Robin Williams showed a strong desire to be part of the franchise and was even willing to work without pay. Despite this enthusiasm, Williams was denied the chance to audition, similar to Rosie O’Donnell’s experience, who had also tried to join the project but was turned away by director Chris Columbus. The focus on British casting led to both actors being excluded from potential roles.
Rejected Opportunities and the British-Only Casting Policy
In a 2001 interview with the New York Post, Williams revealed he had his eyes on a couple of parts for the first film. One notable role he hoped to play was Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts groundskeeper, a character ultimately portrayed by Robbie Coltrane. Janet Hirshenson, the casting director, explained the strict casting rules to The Huffington Post in 2014, stating,
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[Williams] had called [Columbus] because he really wanted to be in the movie, but it was a British-only edict, and once he said no to Robin, he wasn’t going to say yes to anybody else, that’s for sure,
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confirming that the policy left no room for exception.
Attempts to Secure a Part in Later Films
Despite the initial setback, Williams did not give up. He contacted Chris Columbus again to express interest in playing Remus Lupin in a future Harry Potter movie. Columbus recalled for Total Film in 2021,
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I had a conversation with [Williams], who wanted to play Lupin,
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adding,
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It was very difficult for me to say, ‘It’s all British. There’s nothing I can do.’
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The role of Lupin was eventually played by David Thewlis, starting in the 2004 release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Columbus reflected,
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It would have been a different interpretation. I thought [Thewlis] was great, but [Williams] would have been brilliant.
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Strict Enforcement of the Casting Rule and Minor Exceptions
Williams remained hopeful about a possible future appearance, joking to the New York Post,
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Maybe one day. Say if [Harry] goes to Yale and becomes president.
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However, the casting policy favoring British actors was rigidly applied. Two notable exceptions were made: Chris Columbus’s daughter had silent cameos in the first two films, and Verne Troyer played Griphook in the first film, though the character’s voice was provided by Warwick Davis. Davis later fully assumed the role in the concluding movies of the series. These rare exceptions highlighted just how strongly the producers aimed to maintain a predominantly British cast throughout the franchise.
